I loathe wedding announcements. For all the years I worked in the social stationery world, we only had one bride do them, and that was because they were doing a quick wedding before a deployment. If I am not close enough to get an invite for your wedding, I am not close enough to get an announcement of your intent to get me to send you a gift. As for graduation announcements, I understand because there usually is limited seating and you can't invite all you would want, so you send out the announcements. It slides into rude territory when they go out to every person who ever crossed junior's path. They should be limited, IMO, to the closest friends and relatives. One year, after I had split from my husband, 7 of his relatives graduated. I got a whole lot of announcements, which was nice except for the fact 5 of them I wouldn't be able to pick out of a line up! At least the other 2 were gracious enough to send me invitations to their parties also and send prompt thank you's for the checks.

It will never be the rule that invitations and announcements require a gift, for the simple reason that the gimmee pigs would never have to work again. They could support themselves on a steady stream of announcements that include a suggestion that cash is the preferred gift.

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I loathe wedding announcements. For all the years I worked in the social stationery world, we only had one bride do them, and that was because they were doing a quick wedding before a deployment. If I am not close enough to get an invite for your wedding, I am not close enough to get an announcement of your intent to get me to send you a gift. As for graduation announcements, I understand because there usually is limited seating and you can't invite all you would want, so you send out the announcements. It slides into rude territory when they go out to every person who ever crossed junior's path. They should be limited, IMO, to the closest friends and relatives. One year, after I had split from my husband, 7 of his relatives graduated. I got a whole lot of announcements, which was nice except for the fact 5 of them I wouldn't be able to pick out of a line up! At least the other 2 were gracious enough to send me invitations to their parties also and send prompt thank you's for the checks.

I think the point people are making is that announcements are different than invitations. If YOU decide to send a gift after receiving an announcement, that is on you. But I think that announcements are just that *special thing happened and we thought you should know*, not *special thing happened GIFTSGIFTSRAWRMONEYMONEYMORE!*

Most of the wedding and graduation announcements I've seen have been used as a way to update people. Wedding announcements will let you know if the bride has decided to keep or change her name. They will also give an updated address or contact info as well. Graduation announcements will have the graduates college or after high school plans.

I agree that announcements do not require a gift. However, I do send a card with my congratulations.

I love to get wedding, graduation, and birth announcements because my family is scattered around the globe. It is infeasible for my family to travel for each event. I also have many older relatives that do not use electronic communication, and get all of their family news through the mail or telephone.

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ďAll that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."-J.R.R Tolkien

I'm glad announcements don't require a gift. A few years ago we got a graduation announcement for one of DH's nephew who we've never met from cousins I'd never met and that DH hadn't seen or talked to in at least 10 years. I definitely interpreted that one as an "FYI", and that's it.

For a wedding announcement, personally, I would do nothing. If I am not that close to whomever to be invited to the wedding, they will not receive a gift or a card from me. More than likely, I hardly know the couple at all. If it was someone I knew well and knew why I might not be invited to said wedding, I might get them a card.

For a graduation announcement, I would probably send a small, cash gift. There are so many costs going into a high school graduates senior year to begin with, I can understand not being invited to a party, etc. Anyhoo, most times, you only see the graduate for a few minutes as they are more than likely spending time with all their friends at said party. So, I don't feel the need to be invited to a graduation party, per se, unless I know the graduate super well or family of graduate.

I would imagine it depends on the community culture, but I live in Florida and a lot of people have beach weddings with only the HC, witnesses, and an officiant. They might have a party later, but if they are going to take the time and expense of sending announcements, I send a card.

Especially since I am unlikely to travel for a wedding unless the person is very close to us.

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ďAll that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."-J.R.R Tolkien